“I’m sharing our experience in the hopes that some people might learn a little from it.
My stepson has been dating a young lady from Lancaster Township for several months now; both are in their early 30s. To say that she is attractive would be a serious understatement; she is a professional photographer, who does some really impressive work (including works of art in addition to portraits).
My wife and I were invited to dinner at the girlfriend’s parents this evening (Christmas Eve). We did not know these people. When my wife and I arrived there, we were greeted as if we were old friends.
Their home is not only immaculate, it is both comfortable and inviting. We were offered appetizers including shrimp, cheese, and crackers. Not long after we arrived, other family members joined us (including their 3 year old grandson).
We were soon seated for dinner. The table was set with quality china and cloth napkins. Everything was presented very nicely, and good quality wine was offered. The meal was outstanding; everything was prepared well, and was very tasty.
After dinner, we sat around the table to chat for quite a while. Later in the evening, we moved into the living room so the family members could open their Christmas gifts (I helped set up some of the toys for the grandson). We were very surprised to receive Christmas gifts for both of us!
Needless to say, we had a wonderful evening. After hugs all around, they promised to invite us back again in the near future.
Why is this worth posting? Because of attitudes expressed by certain individuals in various other threads, over a long period of time.
This family is Puerto Rican. Dinner consisted of a nice salad, seasoned roast pork (tender and tasty), rice with beans (some of the best I’ve ever had), and green bananas cooked with onions (which was surprisingly good). Desserts included pumpkin pie, apple pie, and a Puerto Rican custard that was absolutely positively incredible.
Family members generally spoke in English, but occasionally switched to Spanish when speaking to each other (sometimes switching back and forth from one sentence to the next). It is obvious that they are happy to accept my stepson as one of them, and they clearly want to include us as a part of their extended family. The one thing that made the biggest impression on me is how important family is to them, and the high priority they place on spending quality time together.
I’m hoping that the before next time someone thinks about making a generally derogatory statement about Puerto Ricans, they first consider our experiences on this night before Christmas.”
